HARRISBURG, Oct. 10, 2001 - Up to 60,000 Pennsylvania students could receive free tuition at state system universities under legislation announced today by Sen. Jack Wagner (D-Allegheny).

"No matter what the future holds for Pennsylvania, we cannot expect to meet the upcoming challenges without a well-educated, academically and vocationally prepared population," Wagner said. "And we can't expect to nurture that kind of environment here in Pennsylvania if our brightest, most promising young people continue to leave the state to seek their educations and their careers."

Wagner's legislation would allow slot machines at Pennsylvania's four racetracks, with a 25% tax on the proceeds.

Most of the estimated $430 million the slots are expected to generate would be used to establish the HOPE (Helping Our Pupils to Excellence) scholarship program. A portion of the funds - an estimated $25 million - also would be used to expand Head Start.

Pennsylvania is one of only 10 states in the nation without a state-funded preschool program," said Wagner, a longtime advocate of Head Start expansion. "There are approximately 30,000 children in Pennsylvania who qualify for the federally-funded Head Start program but are unable to secure a spot."

Wagner noted that tuition at Pennsylvania's state universities is the third-highest in the nation, with annual tuition increases nearly double the rate of inflation. Over the last decade, about 20,000 of Pennsylvania's best-educated young people have left the state.

"The intent of the HOPE scholarship program is to keep our best and brightest in Pennsylvania," Wagner said.